sharing my imperfect journey through life.

Finding Rest

This past year has been a really busy, full year. It’s been a great year full of great memories, learning opportunities, moves, growth, communication, meshing schedules, weekend trips, et cetera. Busy often feels like an understated word for what this past year has been. Don’t get me wrong. I am not complaining in the slightest. It’s be full of amazing and wonderful things. It’s just been a crazy one.

Recently, I’ve been doing a lot of reflecting of my “busy” schedule. Why is it so busy? What is taking up my time? What do I want to be spending the most time on/ give my attention to? Where am I lacking or do I need to redirect my attention to?

The idea of rest isn’t a new concept. In fact, “rest time” is frequently given to children when they need a moment to reset. Or maybe it’s really a moment for the Mom — I’m not entirely sure at this point in my life. But I decided that this is something that I needed to incorporate again.

The timing of this reflection is nothing short of God’s timing. This past week, Shauna Niequist released her most recent novel, Present Over Perfect, and it has been speaking directly to my busy heart. It has been causing me to pause. Reflect. Rest. Spend some much needed quiet time, listening to worship music and painting. You probably know some of this if you follow me on instagram 🙂

Side Note: If you haven’t heard about this book or you haven’t purchased it yet, you should. This is worth your time and your limited moments. I was not forced to talk about this book, nor am I paid for my opinions. It is purely how I feel.

But what this past week has taught me the most is what I am seriously lacking. I am lacking not in a moment of silence or sitting, but in sweet, quiet moments with my Savior. This is hard for me to say. I feel a deep connection with Shauna and her idea of needing to be perfect, having all my ducks in a row, and everything mapped out and going as scheduled. These schedules and plans are the things filling my time. I will buy all the inspiring books under the sun that ultimately sit on my shelf collecting dust to hopefully one day be read. Try and do all the right things, but if I’m not pausing and resting with my Savior, how am I allowing him to work in me, stretch me, and give me the rest I ultimately crave?

This past weekend has been nothing but precious to me. I want to create, just like my God does. I want to connect with him on that level and in order to do that, I have to make time for him.

So where do I go from here?

My life is going to start doing some shifting. Priorities need to be made in certain aspects of my life and given less in others. My reflecting and rest will continue, especially as I learn how make it apart of my day to day.

lindsay ralene.

I am a twenty-something newlywed and a boy mom to our son, Nolan, with a heart for the creative, finding natural solutions for daily life, and want to glorify God with the gifts that he has given me. This blog is my outlet for my adventures, creative endeavors, and a place to reflect on where life takes me and share some tidbits along the way.